Ashley Andreasen. Mrs. Schroder . Honors English Iv. 8

Ashley Andreasen Mrs. Schroder Honors English IV 8 December 2016 Gothic Elements in Frankenstein A gothic novel is an English genre of fiction that was popular in the early 18th and 19th centuries that combines horror, mystery, and death in a seemingly meaningful setting. Frankenstein took place in continental Europe, specifically Switzerland and Germany, with other parts taking place in Arctic regions. The location/setting is just one characteristic that makes this a gothic novel. Gothic novels consist of various elements such as; castle settings, atmospheres of mystery and suspense, ancient prophecies, omens, portents, visions, supernatural or inexplicable events, and numerous other elements. However, each gothic book varies because†¦show more content†¦This statement creates a mysterious and isolated mood. This atmosphere is similar to the one that Shelley created with the sentence â€Å". . . the rain pattered dismally against the panes . . .† (Shelley 48). She uses the elements of rain and darkness to create an air of suspense . â€Å"It was a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils† (Shelley 48). This narrative occurs when Frankenstein’s creation was lifeless. It sets the scene for the start of the chapter, when the monster came alive, and foreshadows the darkness that will occur later in the novel. Dramatic, astonishing events occur, such as inanimate objects coming to life, or ghosts and giants walking. In Gothic stories, events can have natural explanations, while in others, the events are supernatural. Supernatural fiction is a genre requiring plot devices or themes that exploit some contradictions of the commonplace natural world and make materialist assumptions about it. Within Frankenstein, supernatural elements transpire. A consistent occurrence was the monster’s non-human like qualities as well as the creation of the monster. Raising the dead and research into gruesome unexplored fields of science represent characteristics of supernatural fic tion. â€Å". . .by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs† (Shelley 48). The monster was created in an unnatural way by an abnormal